The soft clank carry of a water jar - Tam Ky -
still remembered through the silence of a photograph
negative. Farther over,
the old town fountain, and children gathered.
Still remembered through the silence of a photograph:
the better times, drinks shared the year before, in Marburg.
The old town fountain, and children gathered
where the fathers had grown to forget war -
the better times, drinks shared. The year before in Marburg,
there was no need to bring water to wounded lips.
Where the fathers had grown to forget war,
look, true north was simple: to find
there was no need. To bring water to wounded, lips
declare direction without revolution.
Look true. North was simple to find
still: two spans from the Southern Cross,
declare direction - without revolution,
embrace the opposite. horizon with spread of arms.
Still thirty years from the Southern cross,
do not regard the empty space:
embrace the opposite. Horizontal with shred of arms,
we returned fire and acted as water carriers,
did not regard the empty space,
but closed with brothers in need.
Return fire and act as water, carriers
of memories bitter and sweet, separated
but close with brothers. In need,
recall the night, and align the constellations
of memories, bitter and sweet, separated,
shackled, and broken out.
Recall the night and align. The constellations
come in at first light.
Shackled and broken out
(Negative further. Over.) -
Mark Regan
Come in at first light.
The soft clank carry of a nightjar - Tam Ky.
B Co. 1st/501st Inf.
First published - www.lzsally.com
